Our Opinion: ‘Most beautiful’ – a title and a responsibility

Jefferson City’s motto may be extended, now that the city has earned the title of Most Beautiful Small Town in America.

Our community notched a come-from-behind victory in the Best of the Road contest sponsored by Rand McNally.

The distinction marks a widespread boost in marketing efforts, which is an exciting prospect for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The prize package valued at $15,000 includes: a feature story in the 2015 Rand McNally Road Atlas;, a free custom iPhone app and online travel guide promoting Jefferson City as a top destination; special coverage on BestoftheRoad.com and Maps.RandMcNally.com; and inclusion as a point of interest in the Rand McNally RV GPS and Good Sam Trip Planner.

Perhaps most notable about the award is it resulted from a community effort.

When finalists were announced in September, Jefferson City trailed Punta Gorda, Fla., by a significant margin.

The remaining competition, the social media segment, invited residents to submit photos, videos and essays in support of their communities. And local residents really stepped up.

“The community response throughout the competition has been overwhelming,” said Ryan Burns, CVB communications manager. “Collaborating with the City of Jefferson, the Downtown Association and many others to finalize the video and essay submissions was a great reminder of what a beautiful town we live in. But winning is really the icing on the cake.”

The title conveys prestige and prominence on our community, but it also brings responsibility.

We all have a role to play in this endeavor, from disposing of litter properly or picking it up, to renovating and beautifying properties.

Congratulations to everyone who pitched in to earn this title for our community.

Now that Jefferson City has attained the “most beautiful” moniker, lets show visitors by our actions that the distinction is deserved.